One will never have verifiable proof to the point that it is undeniable that MLS teams are losing ventures. It's a privately held company and it's internal financing mechanisms are a closely guarded secret. One of the best in the country. It's one of the reasons the lawsuit was able to win so to speak. The ability to challenge Precourt's claims about Columbus being a financial loser were one of the levers that could be pulled on hard during discovery that really had the league nervous. All that being said, anyone that has friends in the front office knows that what LaMachia said is accurate. The soccer team operations are woefully unprofitable enterprises. And that's by design. The stadium, which is not part of the Major League Soccer construct (technically) is the profit shelter designed to bleed the soccer operation of any profit making ability. Then once you throw in SUM $, it's an entirely different ballgame. If you think about owning a Major League Soccer Operating agreement, you can think about it in terms of three distinct businesses: SUM Co + Team Co + Stadium Co = *Insert Name* Sports Ventures. It's the most logical operating concept too when you sit down and think about it.
I mostly agree with this--but I'm not sure all of the unprofitably of the soccer operations is "by design". Some of it is unavoidable. Sports is a tough business--and will be getting a lot tougher in the current environment.
Fair. It would probably be more accurate to say it the structure is compartmentalized by design to direct any potential losses to a specific limited area.
The owners want their profits from SUM or stadia rather than playing soccer so they don't have to share as much with the players. It's Hollywood accounting where no movie ever turns a profit but the studios last for decades.
Owners blinked. Per ESPN, "The breakthrough was aided by some divisions within the ownership ranks, with one faction comprised of newer teams displeased with the league's threat of a lockout, with others wanting to take a harder line. That division led the league to soften the language on the force majeure clause."
I mean, is there another old team with new owners at this point? I think we all know that these disagreements among owners come down to Kraft/HSG/AEG vs everyone else.
The Orlando Covid Cup is on per multiple sources. Jeff Carlisle: Lockout avoided, as #MLS and #MLSPA agree on 2020 economics and new CBA through 2025 clearing the way for return to play in Orlando. https://t.co/0s9UIEFz1U— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) June 3, 2020 Article with CBA details: https://www.espn.com/football/major...ersleague-ratify-bargaining-agreement-to-2025
Dispatch version about the season being back on: www.thisweeknews.com/sports/20200603/major-league-soccer-and-playersrsquo-union-ratify-cba-finalize-plan-to-resume-2020-season
I’m excited about live games in a league I care about. I have been watching old games, 2017 ousting of ATL, 2008 beating of Chicago to name a few. Even watched the MLS All-Star game Vs Chelsea, Beckham’s first 10 minutes in a Gals uni (vs Chelsea). I need EPL and MLS to have new content.
I've been without sports for long enough now that I've kind of reached the "let me know when it happens" phase. I can't crank up the excitement yet. When it starts, I'll be there. Until then, meh.
Were absolutely going to win this. No MLS Cup, Open Cup, or Supporters Shield....but we are hands down the favorites to win this.
Took me a bit to get excited with the BL, but it's been nice to have been able to see my team live 4 weeks in a row (that's not common even under normal circumstances) with no. 5 coming up tomorrow.
YMMV, I always say. Not sure what my interest would be had I not been following a team and the league for almost 50 years. For example, I'll watch the occasional EPL game, but I don't have that much interest in it.